It Will Take Awhile For Crane Collapse Cause

Gillette, Wy – Federal investigators say it may be monthsbefore they determine what caused the collapse of a massive cranethat injured three workers at a coal mine in northeastern Wyoming. Two ironworkers remain hospitalized at the Wyoming MedicalCenter in Casper. One man is listed in critical condition, and theother in stable condition. Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman BillDenning says investigators were on the scene Monday. He says itwill take months for the agency to reach conclusions about thecause of the accident. The crane collapsed Saturday afternoon when it was lifting apiece of pipe for a coal conveyor belt. The conveyor belt will carry coal from the Black Thunder coalmine near Wright to silos where it will be loaded onto train cars.